My portion of the project involved writing grant applications for the eventual planning and construction of a Rail-Trail along the extant rail line between the towns of Milliken and Firestone. A non-competitive planning grant through the State Historic Fund as well as a competitive project transformation grant through the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy could provide funding for the interpretation and preservation of the Dent Site, the Fort St. Vrain historic monument, and the Union Pacific Railroad in the face of rapidly encroaching suburban development. The proposed trail would follow the extant route of the Union Pacific Railroad and would require acquisition of use-rights from the Railroad. The proposed trail would begin near Milliken, on Alice Avenue between Broad Street and Traildust Drive. The trail would follow the rail easement to the southeast before curving back to the southwest at the location of the Dent Site. The trail would then continue to the southwest, reaching the terminus near the town of Firestone at the intersection of CR 15 and CR 26 where it would link with the Firestone Trail.

The funding provided by the grants—for which I wrote mock applications—would allow for the acquisition of use-rights as well as the construction of the Rail-Trail along the extant Union Pacific Rail Line from Milliken to Firestone. The total length of the proposed trail would be roughly 13.4 miles long and would require a footprint of roughly 8-10 feet in width. The proposed trail would provide a great way for the public to engage and interact with Colorado history as well as for the purpose of recreation. The eventual project would include the interpretation of sites and resources spanning from the deep past to more recent history, and would include interpretive plans for the Dent Site, the Fort St. Vrain monument, and the Union Pacific Rail Line. These three resources can provide the public with a great way to understand archaeology and history and would connect two towns with rapidly growing populations.

In order to construct a Rail-Trail at the Dent Site the following would be required:

• Grant application to fund land acquisition, trail design, and construction

• Archaeological and Historic survey or re-survey of area

• Maintenance of trail system and protection of cultural resources in the area